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Personal Safety
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Cleopatra



Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago

PostPosted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Guess what?

The British authorities claim to have arrested 24 British Muslims in connection with an alleged plot to blow up airplanes using liquid explosives.

I guess my point is that, even for those of us who are somewhat skeptical about the timing of this dastardly 'plot', you can find violent young men everywhere.

BTW, that tame Arab Snooze article only barely hints at it, but right now the main focus of Arab anger (if one can speak of such a thing), is not the US, not the UN, not Britain, not even really Israel - which was a lost cause anyway - but the Arab governments. So it's not like there's going to be a sudden craze for gunning down EFL teachers.
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The_Prodiigy



Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 252

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The greatest danger lies not so much in one's physical safety whilst working and trying to enjoy life in KSA but one's spirit.

KSA is notoriously lacking in public entertainments, arts, music, animal welfare, pets, media etc etc and the exploration of another cultures/beliefs.

Anything which is not intrinsically shackled to Islam is considered frivolous and lacking worth.

It can be extremely distressing and dispiriting to live in such an environment. Science fiction, as an example is thought of as being subversive. Anything that might stir deeper thinking or exploration is supressed.

Guns do circulate and the police appear to be quite poorly-organised.
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Cleopatra



Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 1:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Anything that might stir deeper thinking or exploration is supressed.


The Prodigy is indeed living proof of this.
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omanized



Joined: 04 Jun 2006
Posts: 152

PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cleo, you are becoming a bit of a bore - ease up on the trigger finger and keep the negative potshots to yourself. Perhaps you are going for some achievement in thread locking? I think it is clear where you stand on issues related to your adopted homeland, conspiracy theories, Isreal etc. Yawn.............

omanized
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Cleopatra



Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago

PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I think it is clear where you stand on issues related to your adopted homeland,


Prodigy, however, has yet to make his thoughts on this matter clear enough to our wise omanised American (?) His every post contains something fresh, new and thought-provoking.
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Queen of Sheba



Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 397

PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:51 pm    Post subject: Re: personal safety: Reply with quote

nikon wrote:
I am working in the
Dhahran area and also concerned about security and personal safety.


I can understand your concerns but such fears are more out of too much spare time to think about one's mortality and reading articles that have been translated from Arabic to English in the Arab News rather than actual threats upon any universities or ESL teachers. Unless you are a flaming, obnoxious republican American tourist type who walks around telling mutawas to check out Fashion TV instead of the masjid, when has your personal safety been threatened in Saudi?

The fact that the Saudi government is battling conservatives is nothing new, and the fact that they are multiplying is inherent to this culture and public education system. The Saudi government has been dealing with this in their own (however and slow and tribal it may be) time, and it�s entirely a Saudi citizens concern. ESL life in Saudi Arabia will remain the same no matter what the conservative views in Saudi Arabia are or will be, however, it would be interesting to know if you have had specific threats that would make you dually concerned. Though based on this article and what it proposes alone, I don�t see any reason for concern over personal or professional safety.
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Bebsi



Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958

PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Unless you are a flaming, obnoxious republican American tourist type who walks around telling mutawas to check out Fashion TV instead of the masjid...


Bloody 'ell, in this case I would really worry about the safety of of poor ole Prodiigy, if he's still in KSA!!

Laughing
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shadowfax



Joined: 31 May 2003
Posts: 212
Location: Pocket Universe 935500921223097532957092196

PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:06 pm    Post subject: iconography betrays further whiff of demagoguery Reply with quote

Briefly to comment on Cleo's new melodramatically polemical propagandist "avatar": forgive my observing that it appears a shade unrepresentative to find a one-child family in such a context.
Did I hear someone mention the words hornet, and nest - in conjunction with the verb stir? Oh well, I couldn't resist the promise of such an exquisite schadenfreude, and must prepare to undergo a protracted and thoroughgoing stinging. Such are the pangs the sons of Truth must bear, for the disillusionment of her foes, as well as for the protection of the naive.
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The_Prodiigy



Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 252

PostPosted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bebsi, old son.

One year is enough to get the vibe, explore all avenues. Unnecessary to examine every last grain of sand to realise what the place represents. The irony is it has been artificially created.

To be fair, some things are better than in USA - kapsa is nutritious and portions generous.

There is no requirement to tax and insure one's car and you don't have to clip kids around the ear when they litter - it's one big dustbin. This despite huge yellow skips being provided.

You get the chance to see other worthwhile places. Dubai has a vibrant eating and entertainment scene. The walk around the creek in the evening is great, architecture and use of lighting stylish. Trade is booming and plenty of ex-pats and cheap electronics.

Sky is blue and umbrellas are not sold. Skis can be safely stored away with the Christmas lights, drum kit and corkscrew.

You will not get sucked into Big Brother, the program will never be accepted in those parts. McCall would be hard pressed to find a decent job.

No fisticuffs over lost poker games with friends.

A multi-entry visa.
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Queen of Sheba



Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 397

PostPosted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The_Prodiigy wrote:


One year is enough to get the vibe, explore all avenues. Unnecessary to examine every last grain of sand to realise what the place represents. The irony is it has been artificially created.

To be fair, some things are better than in USA - kapsa is nutritious and portions generous.

There is no requirement to tax and insure one's car and you don't have to clip kids around the ear when they litter - it's one big dustbin......


WAH wah WAH is all I hear after reading the same drivel in every post. Life is what you make of it, so if all you do is complain, all you will get are complaints!
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The_Prodiigy



Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 252

PostPosted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well ...

Plenty TO complain about in KSA. Awful place.
The daily wailing at sunrise must have rubbed off. Wah wah WaAAAH!
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Cleopatra



Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago

PostPosted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Briefly to comment on Cleo's new melodramatically polemical propagandist "avatar": forgive my observing that it appears a shade unrepresentative to find a one-child family in such a context


If anyone could provide an English translation, I would very much appreciate it.



Quote:
plenty of ex-pats and cheap electronics.


Or even cheap ex-pats and overhyped duty free electronics?
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Queen of Sheba



Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 397

PostPosted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The_Prodiigy wrote:
Well ...

Plenty TO complain about in KSA. Awful place.
The daily wailing at sunrise must have rubbed off. Wah wah WaAAAH!


If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen. And if, as I suspect, you are out of the kitchen... stick a pacifier in your kabsa hole.
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